CLASS SITE: The Social Standoff

The Great Gatsby Chapter Two…

Explore one way that Fitzgerald presents ‘illusion’ in this chapter, you need to use evidence to support your idea

Illusion is shown throughout different ways in chapter two and one of them is that Myrtle changes her dress before the party begins. This is because Myrtle is a lower class person who tries to look like an upper class person by wearing an “elaborate afternoon dress of coloured chiffon”. Myrtle also has a secret affair with Tom Buchanan, although she already has a hard-working husband: Wilson.The reason that Myrtle is attracted to Tom because of his status and wealth, which Wilson does not have.To Myrtle, status and money is more important because she is desperate to improve her life.This is an illusion because Myrtle and Tom both use each other to get away from their real lives and stay with each other for bit to see what their lives could potentially be like, although they both know that it is never going to become reality for them because their relationship is built on materialism. Another illusion that is shown in chapter 2 is “The eyes of Doctor T. J. Ellenburg are blue and gigantic — their irises are one yard high.” Tom, Gatsby, Daisy and all the other rich people are tricked into thinking that the sign is watching how much money they make because the eyes symbolise the growing commercialism of America. Life in America in 1920’s was all about making money, as shown by the wealth of people like Tom.This is an illusion because they compare this billboard to god. Where as the truth is ‘gods’ empty eyes are used to represent him watching over people who have abandoned their spiritual values to achieve material wealth and status.